Design and Construction
The Pegasus 50 was conceived by Marko Paš of Marine Designs1, the same hand that helped develop the Shipman carbon cruiser designs around 20 years ago1. The result is notably different to most other monohulls, particularly in layout1. The hull itself is built using a Vinylester hull with PVC core, while the deck, inner structure, and structural stiffeners are all in carbon fibre1. The outer skin is in glass, which the yard considers less vulnerable and easier to repair1. Weight is kept central and low, including the tanks1.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature is the tandem keel—twin centreline fins connected by a bulb1, inspired by New Zealand’s 1992 America’s Cup boat2. Designer Giorgio Provinciali, an America’s Cup designer currently working on optimizing foiling monohulls, was called in for the project2. According to designer Marko Paš, the tandem keel gives better directional stability, less wetted surface for a low centre of gravity, helps reduce leeway, and brings better performance for its weight1, while allowing the twin rudders to be kept relatively small1. The twin rudders themselves give plenty of control and a direct feel, thanks to minimal steering linkage, and the Jefa steering system connects quadrants with a rod, providing redundancy if steering on one side fails1.
The Pegasus 50 carries a CE Category A ocean-going vessel classification3. Each hull is painted to the customer’s own colour choices1, and hulls are laminated in Italy before being fitted out in Pegasus’s yard an hour inland from Izola, Slovenia1.
Rig and Handling
The sailplan is optimized for 10-20 knots of wind2, and the carbon mast has been placed as far aft as is practical2. The boom has also been shortened, which takes load off the mainsheet arch, keeping weight low and improving the boat’s motion2. The mainsheet arch is integrated into the carbon hardtop2, and the mainsheet itself is led out of harm’s way on the coachroof1.
The standard sail wardrobe includes a fully battened mainsail, a J1 104% headsail, a J2 furling self-tacking jib, and an A3 furling asymmetrical spinnaker3. As standard, the boat comes with main, staysail, genoa, and even a gennaker, while most owners choose to add a Code sail too1. The self-tacking staysail is particularly useful when the wind is up and can fill the slot between the main and reaching sail1. There is an outer sheeting point for the J1 headsail for reaching2.
Setting and handling sails is easily done from the cockpit1. The electric winches are well placed, undoubtedly by someone who’s spent a lot of time on the water, and are in easy reach of the helms2. Shortening sail is totally feasible for one person2, and the owner of the test boat demonstrated that everything from setting sails to raising and storing the gangway could be done singlehanded2.
On the water, the Pegasus 50 delivers a smooth, clean ride with an exceptionally well balanced sailplan2. One tester found that docking and manoeuvring was simple, intuitive, and reassuring1. In light single-figure winds, she has the sail power and slipperiness to make the experience rewarding—one test recorded averaging 6 knots in 8-8.5 knots of wind with the genoa, tacking through 80-85°1. In 12-13 knots of breeze, the same boat averaged 8.5-9 knots1. When sustained 23 knots true wind arrived, one reef in the main and the self-tacker out produced up to 12 knots of easy boatspeed2. Only when gusts hit the 30s with the full main up did the boat start to feel overpowered2. Helming requires only a finger on the wheel1, with the helm feel having the perfect amount of feedback2. Once the breeze nudges into the teens, you get a nice sprinkling of weather helm1.
Accommodation and Livability
The Pegasus 50 gives the bigger proportion of space to the cockpit, saloon and galley1. The modest freeboard and layout reduces accommodation volume compared to many modern cruising yachts1, but the trade-off is a superb cockpit that protects its crew1. The protected cockpit has a big fixed table and seats with proper high backrests1, and the cockpit table and surrounding seating were well protected from the elements when a storm blew in during one test2. Eisenglass windows throughout can be rolled and lowered to improve ventilation or keep out the weather2, and the cockpit can be fully enclosed to keep cushions dry1. The composite gangplank doubles as an aft bench to enclose the top of the transom1.
The easy connection between this highly protected cockpit and the galley/saloon is a real trump card1. The cockpit is slightly recessed, so it’s only two steps down to the galley2, which is accessible via a futuristic-looking sliding door2. The galley is narrow with a tall island bracketing the workspace, making for a really stable place to cook2, with ample stainless steel counter space2 and a U-shaped configuration1. It’s only one step down, at eye level to those seated in the cockpit1, with plenty of natural light and ventilation through the large sliding door1.
The saloon is light and bright1. The salon table and U-shaped settee is built as one component with an adjustable gimbal2—made of carbon fibre, it weighs only 40kg and uses an electric actuator on a ram1. On either tack, you can pivot the table and settee up to 10 degrees and lock it in2. The table lowers to fill in, and the outboard backrest folds over to create a massive bed1. There is a full-width helm station forward with a panoramic view through a windshield2, and the chart table provides a deck-level position with almost surround vision, similar to pilot saloon boats1. The pilot station seat gives a prime protected place to sit a night watch with views over the foredeck1.
The accommodation is all forward of the saloon’s main bulkhead in two or three cabins1. The trade-off for the generous cockpit and galley is that there are no aft cabins2, and the forward cabins are functional but a little tighter than what you’d usually see on a 50-footer these days, particularly the owner’s cabin2. One tester noted that the master cabin is of modest size with limited stowage—long-term cruisers would need to use other areas for clothes too1. The en-suite with its wet heads shower area also feels relatively compact1. The forward cabin has reduced headroom, is purposeful rather than luxurious, with a V-berth and some stowage1. However, the boat boasts a superb amount of stowage space1 and capacious stowage1, much of it in the deep technical lockers below the cockpit.
Systems and Self-Sufficiency
The space below the cockpit is dedicated to two easily accessed technical rooms with the engine and generator in between2. The port technical room contains water-related equipment and the starboard technical room contains electronics, keeping them safely separated2. These lockers are intelligibly laid out with electrics to starboard and plumbing to port1, and include long rails for hanging warps and fenders1. Large panels in the lockers and a cockpit hatch provide almost unhindered access to the engine and genset1. The engine and all noisy items are kept well insulated away from the interior1.
The standard version has a 715-watt solar array2, with 716W standard on the coachroof1, and solar panels can also be mounted on the hardtop2. A fixed 600W hydrogenerator is sited slightly offset from the keel1, and once sailing at over 7 knots it produces 7A+ at 24V1. An electric version is available with double the standard 715-watt solar array and two Oceanvolt 15kW ServoProps2, and Pegasus also offers an electric hybrid option with twin Oceanvolt 15kW drives1.
The standard equipment list is remarkably comprehensive: carbon mast, Hydranet sails, electric winches, solar panels, watermaker, induction cooking, washing machine, B&G instruments, a gimballed settee, an electric telescopic table, a dinghy with Torqeedo outboard, bed linen, cutlery and crockery, tools, and even a vacuum cleaner1. The garage can fit a 2.5m inflatable dinghy and is separated from the technical lockers by a watertight bulkhead1.
Known Considerations
The accommodation compromises are real and worth understanding. The modest freeboard and layout reduces accommodation volume compared to many modern cruising yachts1, and one tester noted that the master cabin is of modest size with limited stowage1. The passageway forward is seaworthy and boasts large lockers, but is low with narrow doorways1. The shower compartment to port has a washing machine and rail, useful for wet hanging, but there’s no hatch so it’s dark and relies on a vent1. Headroom in the pilotberth area is only around 6ft 1in1.
These are not flaws so much as deliberate choices. The Pegasus 50 is designed for passagemaking in comfort and safety1, and the ease with which you can get around the boat is notable1. The design is typically chosen by ‘downscalers’—people who previously had larger yachts and became put off by complexity or need for crew1. The owner of the third hull sailed it solo in the Ostar—which he won—before then sailing around Africa, the wrong way, alone1. Hull number six, the test boat, was 14 months old and had already sailed 10,000 miles1. The boat ticks many boxes for long-term cruising1.
The Verdict
The Pegasus 50 is an artfully unconventional build from Slovenia2 that rewards the experienced sailor willing to question orthodoxy. Her tandem keel, carbon construction, and cleverly integrated hardtop create a genuinely different approach to bluewater cruising—one that prioritizes sailing performance, short-handed capability, and crew protection above volumetric interior space. The boat is powerful-looking1 and attracted compliments from two people in port and one French coast guard boat during a test2.
Pros
- Exceptionally well balanced sailplan that delivers rewarding performance from light airs through to the mid-teens21
- Short-handed sailing is genuinely feasible, with furling headsails, self-tacking jib, and well-placed electric winches21
- Superb protected cockpit with excellent connection to galley and saloon1
- Comprehensive standard equipment list that includes watermaker, solar, washing machine, and even cutlery1
- Tandem keel and twin rudder system provides directional stability, reduced leeway, and light helm1
- CE Category A ocean-going classification3
Cons
- Forward cabins are tighter than typical for a 50-footer, particularly the owner’s cabin with limited stowage21
- No aft cabins; accommodation volume is reduced compared to many modern cruising yachts21
- Passageway forward is low with narrow doorways1
- Shower compartment to port lacks natural light and relies on a vent1
- Headroom in pilotberth area is only around 6ft 1in1
The Pegasus 50 is not a boat for everyone. She asks you to value sailing experience and cockpit living over cavernous interior volume. But for the experienced cruiser who understands that trade-off, she offers something rare: a 50-footer that sails like a much smaller, more responsive boat, yet carries everything needed for serious ocean passages. As one tester put it, you quickly reach an engaging sailing mode1—and once there, the Pegasus 50 makes perfect sense.
Footnotes
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